Leave No Trace is a national outdoor skills and ethics education program. The activities in this booklet were created to help share the value and importance of Leave No Trace principles with young people; many can be adapted for adults. The following information describes how the activities are designed and how to fit them to your personal needs.
Why Leave No Trace? Between 1965 and 1980, backcounrty visits jumped from 4 million visitor days per year to 10 million per year.(A visitor day is a 12 hour stay by one person.) In 1984 the number grew to 15 million visitor days up 275 percent in less than 20 years. As cities grow and populations encroach upon wildlands and recreation areas, we must do more than just pick up litter and extinguish campfires; we must learn how to maintain the integrity and character of the outdoors for all living things. However, Leave No Trace is not simply a program for visiting the backcountry, it is a way of life, and learning Leave No Trace concepts begins at home.
The knowledge and concepts enabling visitors to Leave No Trace are easily taught both before and during outings. With a little preparation, you can teach people the value of our reviving natural areas and methods to preserve them for future generations.
What's Included? This Leave No Trace packet will aid you in preparing and presenting fun, and easy-to-learn Leave No Trace activities. Teaching materials include Background Information, Quick Concept activities, and Activity Plans.
Background Information provides essential information required to successfully conduct basic Leave No Trace training.
Quick Concepts are easy-to-organize activities to help you teach Leave No Trace concepts. The ac ties require minimal preparation. Each Quick Concept activity requires about 15-30 minutes to complete.
Activity Plans are detailed teaching blueprints. They are more in-depth than Quick Concepts and require more preparation. Your group will need about 45-75 minutes to complete each activity.
All activities are designed to be interactive and permit participants to actually see, experience, or become personally involved in the benefits of Leave No Trace.
Environmental Education and Volunteer Programs